Hollenbeck Honey produces up to 50,000 pounds of honey each year

Saturday

Sep 29, 2012 at 8:58 AMSep 29, 2012 at 9:01 AM

One a series of stories about local manufacturing.

Taylor Muller

While Kirksville resident Cliff Hollenbeck enjoys seeing his own locally-produced and labeled honey on shelves at the grocery store, it’s his bulk sales that make up the majority of his buyers, mostly in 55-gallon drums at a time.

And while 55 gallons of honey may seem like a mind-boggling amount, in all the Kirksville honey farm outputs upward of 30,000 to 50,000 pounds of the golden amber each year.

“Beekeeping is just like the family farm,” Hollenbeck said. “Very few of the younger generation are doing it. To do what we do, it’s got to be in your blood.”

Located in Kirksville, Hollenbeck Honey harvests honey and honey comb from his series of bee hives across the region.

Shoppers may find the honey in area grocery stores, but about three-fourths of the product is sold to re-packers and bulk outlets in 55-gallon drums. In all, the farm produces 30,000 to 50,000 pounds of golden amber a year.

Since 2008, when he experienced a downturn in the honey market, demand is up and supplies are good, Hollenbeck said.